Deputies to Patrol for Drunk Drivers
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lost Hills Station has formed a drunk-driving task force to watch drivers leaving high school graduation and summer parties on Friday night, authorities said.
The task force of more than 50 officers will use 26 patrol cars, six more than on a usual night. Three jailers will also be assigned to the task force to process the expected increase in arrests, said Deputy Norman Campbell of the Lost Hills station.
Task force officers will pull over any driver who appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, authorities said.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol will augment the task force, said Sgt. Kevin Mauch, also of the Lost Hills station.
The operation will be held from 8 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, covering Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Malibu, including the Ventura Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway in those areas, Campbell said.
It will be the station’s first drunk-driving task force, and Mauch said they hope it will be more effective than checkpoints in catching drunk drivers.
“The drunk drivers get wise and learn to avoid the checkpoint areas,” he said.
“So we’re varying the mix with this DUI task force.”
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